Duane Brown’s future a year ago at training camp was filled with uncertainty during a holdout. Ever since his trade to Seattle in the middle of last season Kemoko Turay Jersey , he’s been ”at peace” with whatever was going to take place.

”Last year at this time I was very anxious and uncertain,” Brown said Sunday, a day after signing a three-year contract extension with the Seahawks. ”This whole year I’ve been at peace. I wasn’t worried about anything when I showed up for workouts or OTAs. I wasn’t worried about what was going on behind the scenes and just controlling what I could control.”

The extension means the big left tackle will likely be protecting Russell Wilson’s blindside for the rest of Brown’s career. He’ll turn 33 next month and has spoken repeatedly of wanting Seattle to be the final stop of his career.

Brown’s current deal was set to expire after this season, part of the reason he was a holdout from the Houston Texans until Week 8 of last season before being traded to Seattle. Brown said it became clear soon after arriving in Seattle the intensions were to make sure this was his last stop. Those indications were part of why Brown was committed to being part of Seattle’s offseason program.

”They communicated that early on and there was no doubt in any of our minds that we would get it done,” Brown said. ”I wanted to show my commitment to the team and our future by being here. Coming here halfway through the season you want to be here during the offseason, for me, to learn the team more, to have my impact in the locker room, my leadership skills and it was great to do that.”

Brown was the first to get an extension among a number of key contributors whose contracts expire after the 2018 season. That group includes linebacker K.J. Wright, defensive end Frank Clark and, most notably, holdout safety Earl Thomas. There have been no signs of a softening between Thomas and the Seahawks as the former All-Pro has sought either a new deal in Seattle or a trade from the Seahawks.

NOTES: Seattle signed WR Marvin Bracy on Sunday. Bracy represented the United States in the 100 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics and is a three-time U.S. indoor champion in the 60 meters. Bracy returned to football last year signing with Indianapolis during training camp but was released before the season.

—

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4)

OPEN CAMP: July 26, Latrobe, Pennsylvania

LAST YEAR: Steelers won second straight AFC North title and third in four years as "Killer Bs" trio of QB Ben Roethlisberger Anthony Miller Color Rush Jersey , WR Antonio Brown and RB Le'Veon Bell received plenty of help from rookie WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and defense that gave up big plays but also led NFL with 57 sacks. Still, Steelers had trouble when pushed by quality teams. They let second-half lead get away at home against New England, loss that cost them home-field advantage in playoffs. And they couldn't find way to beat Jacksonville, which won at Heinz Field not once but twice, including divisional playoff upset in which seemingly offensively challenged Jaguars put up 45 points.

CAMP NEEDS: Steelers promoted longtime QB coach Randy Fichtner to take over play-calling duties after Haley's successful if occasionally turbulent six-year stint ended in January. Fichtner doesn't expect to give offense massive overhaul, though he will be forced to experiment during camp at running back with Bell unlikely to show while he waits to sign one-year franchise tender. One year after finding potential star in Smith-Schuster, Steelers hope they've done it again with Washington after record-setting career at Oklahoma State. Race to fill injured inside linebacker Ryan Shazier's spot is wide open, with Bostic and Tyler Matakevich getting first crack at lining up next to Vince Williams. Secondary is also being overhauled with Mitchell, Golden and Gay gone.

EXPECTATIONS: Steelers once again expected to be class of AFC North. While Roethlisberger thinks he can play another handful of seasons, Pittsburgh's window could be closing faster than he anticipated. Front office failed to reach long-term agreement with Bell, meaning this will likely be his final season in Pittsburgh. Steelers have proven they can be productive without him, but elite? That's tough sell, putting onus on them to get it done this season. Better play in secondary would help. So would some consistency at outside linebacker, where Bud Dupree remains enigma as he enters fourth season.

You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You can delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You can vote in polls in this forum.